Golf cup



D. MATHENY Feb, s, 19494.

GOLF `CUP Filed Oct. 15', 1947 tlllllllllllllllllllllll Gttprneg Patented Feb. 8, 1949 PAT ENT o FFI@ 2.461,38@ GOLF CUP David Matheny, New Brighton, Pa. Application october 15, leave seri-.rif risiedere:

1 claim'. (crateri-self- Thiginvention relates to; aniimproved golt cup; andi` important objects and advantages thereof are.: tof provide Va golf cup of the` characterk described, which win facilitate the removes of golf balls therefrom, which embodies novel means for suitably supporting the marker staff in the proper erect position, which supports the golf balls in elevated spaced relation to the bottom thereof, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and emcient in its use, and comparatively economical in its manufacture, installation, and maintenance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is t-o be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come Within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a golf hole lining and of associated parts constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the hole lining with the lifter in the elevated position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional View of a modified form ofthe device.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes a cylindrical wall, which is intended to be permanently fitted in the golf hole in the ground and forms a lining for the Wall of the hole. The cylindrical Wall has open ends, and the upper end thereof is disposed flush With the surface of the putting green 2. The wall I may be constructed of sheet metal, or of any other suitable material.

A relatively short, cylindrical drain pot 3 is mounted at the lower -end of and within the lining wall I. The upper end of the drain pot is open and is provided with an inturned annular supporting llange 4. The drain pot has a bottom 5 having a drain opening 6 in which is fitted a drain plug 1.

A circular ball lifter 8 is loosely supported, within the lining wall I, on the supporting flange 4 of the drain pot 3, and is formed with an outwardly projecting annular retaining flange 9 at the lower end thereof. The lifter is provided with a vertically disposed, upwardly extending stem I 0, and the latter is formed with a handling knob II The ball lifter 3 is provided with a plurality of drain holes I3 whereby any Water entering the golf cupY will be conveyed to the drain pot 3. The top surface of the lifter slopes downwardly from the centrally disposed stem I0 to the peripheral edge thereof.

A retaining ring I4 is removably engaged in the upper end of the lining Wall I and has a screw thread connecting with the inner side of the latter. The retaining ring is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed notches I5, which are adapted for the reception or engagement of a special and suitable wrench tool that may be ernployed for removing the retaining ring from the lining Wall I and for replacing said retaining ring in the latter.

When the retaining ring Il! is mounted in the lining wall I, the lifter 8 cannot be removed from the golf cup, as the retaining flange 9 of the lifter will abut against the retaining ring. Sucharrangement will eliminate the possible loss of the lifter due to the removal of the latter by an -unauthorized person. As stated, the retaining ring may be removed by any one in possession of theV necessary wrench tool, and allow the subsequent removal of lifter when desired.

In practice it will be obvious that when the golf balls 2| enter the golf cup they will rest upon the top surface of the lifter 8. When the lifter is raised to its maximum elevated position, the entire top surface thereof is disposed abOVe the level of the top of the lining wall I and of the surrounding terrain, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. When the lifter is s-o elevated the golf balls carried thereby will roll by gravity laterally out- Ward from the lifter unto the terrain. The lifter may be elevated either by grasping the knob II and thereby raising the lifter, or by grasping and using the marker staff 20 if the latter be fractionally engaged in the passage I2 in the lifter.

The drain pot 3 is preferably removable from the lining wall I when the retaining ring I4 is removed from said lining wall. Such removal of the drain pot allowsv the latter to be quickly emptied of any collected extraneous matter and f thereby assures a thoroughly clean golf cup when the drain pot is replaced. If desired, the drain plug I may be removed entirely and thereby allow Water to drain from the drain pot through the drain opening 6. With the drain plug in position the water will drain from the drain pot by over- 4 flow only, but this structure is more eicient in eecting the thorough cleaning of the golf cup, in the manner above stated. l

The modified form of the invention, shown in Figure 4, comprises a lining wall I6 provided with an inturned retaining flange M at its upper end, and a bottomless drain pot I8 having an inturned supporting flange I9. |The ball lifter seats upon the supporting flange I9, and cannot be removed from the lining Wall IE due to the retaining flange I1.

The present invention provides a durable and eiiicient device of its kind, which may be economically constructed, and successfully employed for the purposes and in the manner herein set forth.

What I claim is:

In combination,` a golf cup comprising a cylindrical lining wall, a drain poll removably mounted in the lower end portion of said wall and being formed at the upper end thereof with an annular inturned supporting flange, a circular ball lifter provided with drain holes loosely mounted in said wall and seating on said supporting flange, said 4 lifter including an upwardly extending centrally` disposed stem, said stem being provided with a handling knob at the upper end thereof and with a passage extending therethrough, the top surface of said lifter sloping downwardly from said stem to the peripheral edge of the lifter, and a retaining rlng having a screw thread connection in the upper end of said wall, said lifter being formed with an annular retaining flange for engaging said retaining ring for preventing the removal of said lifter from said wall and for allowing the disposal of said sloping top surface of said lifter above the upper end of said Wall.

DAVID MATHENY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stutz July 18, 1933 

